r Simcoe, and of Allan N. MacNab for
Wentworth. York still remained true to Mackenzie, and, as will presently
be seen, his presence in a House composed mainly of political opponents
was destined to lead to serious complications. Upon the assembling of
the Legislature early in the following year, Archibald McLean, the
official candidate for the Speakership, was elected by a majority of
twelve votes. No adherent of the official party could have been more
acceptable to the Reformers than Mr. McLean, who was a gentleman of high
standing at the bar, and who personally enjoyed great popularity. He sat
for the County of Stormont, which he had represented for many years,
during all of which period he had maintained friendly personal relations
with the members of the Opposition. Great confidence was felt in his
personal integrity, and in his earnestness for the country's welfare. He
had special claims to consideration, for he was a Canadian by birth, and
had fought and bled in defence of his native land during the War of
1812. Still, he represented political principles which the Reform
members had been expressly returned to combat, and the mere fact of his
election to the Speaker's Chair by a majority of twelve votes in a House
which numbered fewer than fifty members was in itself a sufficient
indication that those principles were for the time unmistakably in the
ascendant in Upper Canada. The proceedings of the House during the
session furnished an apt and conclusive commentary upon this fact.

The session of 1831 was chiefly memorable for two things: the passing of
the Everlasting Salary Bill, as it was called by those opposed to it;
and the commencement of the agitation which had for its object the
exclusion of Mr. Mackenzie from the Legislature.

The Salary Bill was simply a measure granting to the Provincial
Government a permanent Civil List, in return for the cession by the
Crown of the control of the Imperial duties. It was introduced in
accordance with a suggestion from the King, but the Provincial
Executive concealed certain facts in connection with it, of which the
Opposition did not become aware until some time afterwards.[149]

By this Bill provision was made for the salaries of the
Lieutenant-Governor, the three Judges of the Court of King's Bench, the
Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, five Executive Councillors, and
the Clerk of the Executive Council. Reformers were strenuously opposed
to the measure, whic